AuntieM Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 I need to do a study for my psychology class of a well-known figure. The point of the study is to look at both genetic influences and environmental/societal influences that may have affected his or her upbringing. Our professor used Caroline Kennedy as today's example. So far I can think of just a few, and I need to make some suggestions to my group (yes, a dreaded *group* project:glare:). The suggestions so far include Oprah Winfrey & Jay Leno. The subject doesn't have to be a celebrity, but enough background on his childhood should be available to make a good profile. I keep thinking of people like CS Lewis and Winston Churchill. Margaret Thatcher. Harper Lee. Amy Carmichael. George Washington Carver. Abraham Lincoln. Sting and Bruce Springsteen come to mind, mostly because they are songwriters who speak to political/humanitarian circumstances with their music. My (younger!) classmates would prefer to study Michael Jackson and Barak Obama. I need a couple of compromise names to offer. I think they're going to want someone a bit more... contemporary! Who would you choose? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 Christian Bale :D Bono Nelson Mandela Tim McGraw & Faith Hill as a couple Lisa Presley Julian Lennon (perhaps someone who grew up with a parent as a celebrity) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mama Geek Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 Bill Gates Warren Buffet Donald Trump Princess Di would probably be an easy pick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ibbygirl Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 Jim Henson Frank Oz Steven Spielberg George Lucas Mr. Rogers :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OrganicAnn Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 If you do Oprah, there was a show on PBS that researched her ancestry and did her DNA. I'm always fascinated by genius, so I would pick someone like Einstein. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nd293 Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 Nelson Mandela - his biography was fascinating. Bill Gates It might be interesting to look at someone really young that did something interesting. Can't think of names here, but there was the guy that went and lived alone in Alaska and died there, or the guy that live with bears (that one ended badly too), or the Australian teenager that recently sailed solo around the world. From a psychology point of view, I think choosing a young person might be more interersting, as there has been less time for a variety of influences, so the influences that have been at play will have had a more dramatic impact. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OLG Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 The Facebook guy, Mark Zuckerman or the Google guys? I have always been fascinated with the Tiger Woods family and story even prior to all the mess he got himself into which is part of his story too, I guess. THe whole upbringing, mixed culture family etc. But, I doubt young college kids would give a hoot about that! Sounds like a fun project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BBG580 Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 Warren Buffet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SailorMom Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 Ghandi :) for the young ones... How about the young lady Prince William is marrying? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigMamaBird Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 Jim HensonFrank Oz Steven Spielberg George Lucas Mr. Rogers :) All of these would be great, but Jim Henson would be really interesting. He was so creative! The Muppet Show can go from side splitting hilarious to downright poingant in seconds. And some of his creatures were so bizarre. That would be an interesting brain to pick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belacqua Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 Grigori Perelman, the Russian man who solved the Poincare Conjecture but turned down the million dollar prize. Fascinating guy. Chaz Bono Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AuntieM Posted January 26, 2011 Author Share Posted January 26, 2011 Thanks for all the terrific suggestions. You have me wanting to hit the library's biography section in a big way! I'll let you know the name of the lucky... victim?!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AuntieM Posted January 27, 2011 Author Share Posted January 27, 2011 And the winner is.... Warren Buffet! Teacher's response: "Oh, he's my favorite!" So, we chose well, but now, we'll have to do an *excellent* job of it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mama Geek Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 Is Warren Buffet some one you will enjoy doing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AuntieM Posted January 28, 2011 Author Share Posted January 28, 2011 Yes, I do believe I will enjoy learning more about him. After considering a list of suggestions submitted by all group members, my personal first choice was Tiger Woods. I am not a huge fan of Woods, but I believe that all the various influences on his life, and the resultant behaviors, would make a very interesting case study. I will study him if there's another case study assignment later in the semester. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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